submitted by Gail Smith
Through the generosity of the community, the Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church has received the last of monies needed to purchase three rainwater collection tanks for Ugandan villages.
Christianity Today reported recently that “providing potable water has the greatest impact and cost effectiveness per dollar than any other poverty intervention.” Children in Uganda cannot attend school nor can mothers help support their families because they have to walk 2-5 miles, sometimes twice a day, to retrieve water, typically from a murky pond or river shared by livestock, wildlife or micro-organisms. Consuming this water leads to disease and often death.
The project’s goal from January 1 through May 31 was to raise $3,500 to purchase one 2,600 gallon rainwater collection tank that would bring life to a
n entire Ugandan village, about 100 families for about 30 years. This tank would not only provide clean water but would also serve as a bridge to building relationships with Ugandan people and pave the way to providing the means for sustainable living. It would be a source of hope where there is none. It would mean the difference between life and death.
The project kicked off with a fundraiser at HFCS in January which netted $360 from a Hat Day. The balance of the campaign began with a Bible Read-a-thon on March 23. Though not much money was raised during that event, it got the ball rolling and soon checks began coming in and other fundraisers were set in place. $10,000+ was raised in a little over ten weeks.
The Church would like to extend special thanks to Susan Blocker and Women of Hope for their efforts. These faith-filled women from the greater Cambridge area raised enough money to purchase their own tank, which is currently being installed in Nansana, Uganda. The second tank is being installed in Kawoko, and a check will be going out this week for the third. They also wanted to recognize the generosity of an anonymous donor and the congregation at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cambridge.
Though this year’s campaign is over, if you would like to make a donation, you can send a check directly to James Harrington, Ugandan Water Project at 2648 Rabbit Run, Bloomfield, NY, 14469. For more information visit Ugandanwaterproject.com or UWP-HF.org.
